Drought funding for Willits

The California Department of Public Health awarded Willits on Monday with a $250,000 emergency grant to help the city prepare for drought conditions. The city applied for the grant last week to cover the cost of installing emergency piping and preparing the two city owned wells for service.

The grant included more than a mile of new piping to bring water from the Elias and park wells together at a central location. This work is nearly completed on an emergency basis by local contractors and California Department of Corrections fire crews working together. In addition to the piping, the grant included a new Elias well pump and temporary chlorination facilities.

The grant does not cover the costs of either a temporary or permanent water treatment facility to remove heavy metals from the well water. A temporary facility costs nearly $300,000 for a six month rental or $800,000 for a permanent treatment plant. Willits City Engineer Tom Mannatt estimates the full cost of a permanent facility at $2 million.

"This drought has impacted all of California. This is one example of a coordinated effort bringing resolution to a severely impacted community. CDPH continues to survey water systems statewide for impact of the drought," said Dr. Ron Chapman, CDPH director and state health officer. "Our Drinking Water Program is offering technical assistance to drinking water systems and is exploring possible solutions for those most vulnerable."?

CalFire and the Department of Corrections has supplied the city with several inmate hand crews, each comprised of a CalFire captain and approximately 15 low-level inmates from CDCR to provide the city with a large emergency workforce.

"The drought has not only led to an increase in wildfires, but has left some communities with reduced drinking water supplies," said Unit Chief Chris Rowney, CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit. "When our inmate firefighting hand crews are not assigned to wildfires, we have them working on brush clearance or other community service projects, so we are glad we can assist the city of Willits in its time of need."

The hand crews assigned to the project are stationed at the Chamberlain Creek Conservation Camp.